Primary Devil Fruit Development Card: Grants a chance to enhance the power of your Devil Fruit.
Liam Ross stared at the description floating before his eyes. Not bad this wasn't a god-tier item, but it was definitely something he could use.
After his two fierce encounters with Golden Lion Shiki, Liam had started doubting his own ability. He'd blamed his Earth-Earth Fruit, thinking it was too limited. Without solid ground nearby, his power plummeted. And at sea, it felt almost useless. He'd assumed his Devil Fruit was trash-tier.
But that belief shattered yesterday.
While sneaking into the Marine Library under invisibility, he stumbled across an ancient reference book a complete study on the development of Devil Fruits. After reading it cover to cover, he finally understood.
It wasn't that his Earth-Earth Fruit was weak. It was that he hadn't learned how to use it properly.
The book made it clear: whether Logia, Paramecia, or Zoan, there were no weak fruits. Only weak users. Everything depended on the user's creativity and how deeply they developed their ability.
According to the text, fruit development progressed through three general stages:
Beginner: The user can draw upon the fruit's power but can't yet control it freely.
Intermediate: The user learns to expand the fruit's potential creating techniques, forms, and powers unique to their own style.
Advanced: The user attains the deepest level of mastery the so-called "Awakening."
It was a simple framework, but it held profound truth. Every Logia user who became famous had undergone that same process.
And then he found the part that made him want to bury his face in the sand.
To fully command a Logia-type fruit, the user must undergo body assimilation training learning to merge their own body with their element. Elementalization.
Apparently, this was basic education in the Marine training camps.
Liam froze when he read that.
He hadn't gone through any official training. Of course, he didn't know. He'd been too busy trying to survive quietly signing in here and there, hoarding resources, keeping a low profile. He thought lying low was the smart move.
In his mind, this world was terrifying enough already. Why take unnecessary risks when he could just sign in, grow stronger in secret, and outlive everyone else?
That was the whole "tactical hermit" lifestyle a strategy worthy of a transmigrator with foresight. Like the wise strategist who knew the world's fate from his armchair.
In truth, he just wanted to feel superior. It fit the "cool-headed transmigrator" image he'd built up in his head.
High IQ, zero action until, of course, the moment he actually went to sea.
And promptly got smacked around.
The realization that he couldn't even elementalize a basic Logia technique hit him hard. It was humiliating. If anyone ever found out that the infamous "Invisible Demon Emperor" couldn't even perform elementalization, he'd have to dig himself a hole and jump in.
But now, at least, he finally knew what to do.
He decided to use the coming month wisely training in secret every night aboard the patrol fleet until he achieved full elementalization. No one needed to know.
And that's where the Development Card came in.
"System," Liam asked silently, "can this item help me elementalize faster?"
"Yes," came the simple reply.
Liam's eyes brightened. "Then use it."
A pleasant chime echoed in his mind.
"Ding. Earth-Earth Fruit experience +100."
"Elementalization unlocked: 10%."
The moment the sound faded, Liam raised his hand and focused. With a thought, his right palm dissolved into swirling grains of earth, the particles rotating and shifting like living sand. The faint shhhh sound was strangely soothing.
He grinned. "As expected of the system. Instant results."
Ten percent wasn't much, but it was progress. More importantly, he'd finally broken through the barrier holding him back. At last, he could fight freely even at sea so long as he didn't fall directly into the ocean.
When his invisibility's cooldown ended, he left the deserted island and returned to the ship before dawn.
By sunrise, the patrol fleet having drifted through the night arrived at its next destination: Little Liya Kingdom. As the name suggested, it was a small nation, though lively and bustling by the sea.
At the port, dozens of ships crowded the harbor: merchant vessels, fishing boats, and cargo ships. The air was thick with the cries of vendors selling fresh seafood, the smell of salt and grilled fish mingling with the morning sun.
Then, shadows fell over the port.
Three massive Marine warships slowly approached the docks, their presence darkening the sky. The sight alone was enough to silence the crowd. The people stopped mid-sentence, turning toward the approaching giants.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the wooden pier as Marines disembarked in perfect formation.
At the front strode a man with slicked-back hair, a cigarette clamped between his teeth, and eight long blades strapped to his back Vice Admiral Onigumo.
The crowd gasped.
"Who's that officer?"
"He's a Vice Admiral! Look at those epaulettes!"
"That's Onigumo of the Eight-Sword Style one of the most feared men in Marine Headquarters!"
As always, some random local every city had one stepped forward to explain everything with surprising accuracy. The bystanders nodded in awe, whispering among themselves, their admiration laced with fear.
Onigumo gave a curt nod to one of the rear admirals. "Leave a small unit to guard the ships."
"Yes, sir!"
The officer hurried to relay orders.
Then Onigumo led a thousand Marines toward the heart of the city. Their synchronized march thundered like drums of war. The civilians instinctively parted, clearing the road without a word.
Among the ranks, Liam marched quietly, blending in with the others. His mind, however, was elsewhere focused on his next system check-in. He'd been planning to sign in that morning anyway.
As fate would have it, he overheard two captains chatting ahead of him. They were heading to the royal palace.
A smile tugged at his lips. "The palace, huh? That's bound to have better rewards than a marketplace."
He decided to save his check-in for later.
Fifteen minutes later, under Onigumo's lead, they reached the palace gates. Liam followed the formation inside only as far as the outer courtyard, of course. Still, it was enough.
"System," he whispered. "Morning check-in."
"Ding. Special location detected. Reward bonus: +10%."
"Congratulations, host. You've received a Medium Experience Card."
Liam smirked. Without hesitation, he applied it to his Earth-Earth Fruit. While the others waited, he opened his personal stats window.
Host: Liam Ross
Age: 19
Bloodline: None
Skills:
Six Powers (Advanced)
Swordsmanship (Master Swordsman)
Earth-Earth Fruit (Top Tier)
Armament Haki (Top Tier)
Observation Haki (Top Tier)
Marksmanship (Expert)
Invisibility (Perfect)
Insight (Intermediate)
Items:
Good Person Card ×1, Charm Card ×1, Fine Flintlock ×1 (70 bullets), Telescope ×1, Senzu Bean ×1, Seastone Handcuffs ×1, Moonlight Magazine ×1, Instant Noodles ×3, Spicy Strips ×2, Rice Crackers ×11, Donuts ×4, Orange Windmill ×1, 5,000,000 Berries
Special Item: Clone-Clone Fruit (Paramecia)
Combat Rating: High-Level Elite (Comparable to a Junior Admiral)
He nodded in satisfaction. Not bad. His Earth-Earth Fruit still required 10,000 experience points to advance, and so far, he'd accumulated just over 2,100. It was progress, even if slow.
"System," he asked curiously, "how strong does a Devil Fruit need to be before it awakens?"
"Once upgraded to its strongest level," the system replied coldly. "That is the point of awakening."
Liam's eyes gleamed. "So the next step is awakening, huh? Interesting…"
Meanwhile, beyond the palace walls, chaos was brewing.
A horde of bandits at least a thousand strong was marching toward the capital. Their bodies were thick, their faces twisted with malice. Some carried rifles and cannons, others simple swords. At their head walked a tall, red-haired man whose commanding presence was impossible to ignore.
He held a child in his arms a baby boy, no older than one. The sight should have been tender, almost fatherly.
But it wasn't.
Because that baby's eyes, though bright and innocent on the surface, gleamed with something darker. Something cruel. A hint of wicked intelligence far too mature for his age. And the small tuft of fiery red hair on his head stood up like a crown of thorns, sharp and wild.
Father and son both radiated the same strange, unsettling aura.
The air around them seemed to hum with tension, as if the world itself could sense that something monstrous was approaching the palace.
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